Green star polyps

SaltLifer · May 8, 2017

So I know GSP has a bad reputation for being invasive but I've heard that if you put it on an island, you can contain it. I know it will grow on glass though so my question is, will it grow across the sand toward the other rocks?

donnievaz · May 8, 2017

SaltLifer said:
So I know GSP has a bad reputation for being invasive but I've heard that if you put it on an island, you can contain it. I know it will grow on glass though so my question is, will it grow across the sand toward the other rocks?

Typically not. That's not to say it's never happened, just I've never seen or heard of it happening.

cloak · May 8, 2017

GSP will find a way IME, especially if the grains are somewhat coarse.

R_C · May 8, 2017

I have had mine for about 6 months and is does not seem to be going anywhere. But I will say that it can. I had one rock before that when it was fully covered it started layering like a monti. All I did was cut off the pieces and attach them to small rocks and sell them

Pongo · May 8, 2017

I thought my GSP was well contained on a single rock island.
It has now ejected polyps half way across the tank and now I have 3 new spots starting up.
I'm still debating what to do about it.

All 3 new growth areas are at the base of a rock or on a rock that is flat and even with the sand bed.
I'm guessing a 2 part epoxy putty hat is in their near future.

Adam113 · May 8, 2017

My GSP that I noticed has reached to the next rock. Pretty crazy. That wasn't there at all a few days before I saw it all the way across.

Scubado63 · May 8, 2017

It will grow across the sand, I have some that was on a rock away from everything else, it grew over the rock, across the sand about 3 inches and then up the glass..... just cut it back when needed

Zack K · May 13, 2017

donnievaz said:
Typically not. That's not to say it's never happened, just I've never seen or heard of it happening.

This is an old picture but It will grow anywhere you don't want it to

donnievaz · May 13, 2017

Zack Klabunde said:
This is an old picture but It will grow anywhere you don't want it to

I get it. I've just never seen it grow across a sand bed.

Mrx7899 · May 13, 2017

Mine is growing on the sand didnt think it would happen but it did

ubasu · May 15, 2017

Mine stayed on one rock for a long time. Until i re scaped and it reached out and bridged the gap between the rock and the wall. Not across the sand just mid way in the water. I don't mind it though. Its easy to kill with reef puddy.

alanbetiger · May 15, 2017

Yes it can grow on sand. GSP can also start psuedobranching trying to grow outward from a surface if there's nowhere else for it to grow. I had some in a Biocube that covered every rock and then started sending out this 0.25" stalks that would get 2-3 inches trying to find another surface to attach and towards the light. A visitor thought it was a weird looking SPS. It was pretty.

Tokash23 · May 15, 2017

Just a thought...if you put a coral next to it that will potentially sting it (like a torch or something) would that keep it at bay?

Webslinger · May 15, 2017

My GSP all died. Don't know why everything else is good

Adam113 · May 15, 2017

Webslinger said:
My GSP all died. Don't know why everything else is good

Are you sure it died? Or just retracted? Mine retracted for almost a week for no apparent reason. Blew it off with a baster a few times and in a few days it was back to being wide open.

reefwiser · May 15, 2017

GSP can retract for a week or more I had a stand of it do that. While using aptasia x I basted it and it took a whole week before came back. This week while on vacation I am removing all corals to the QT tank and doing a treatment for aptasia with berghia nudi's and removing all GSP from the tank and cleaning the tank out.
All corals now go thru a QT to keep unwanted from display tank.